Using the Pages Panel on Squarespace
TL;DR:
- The Pages panel controls your website structure and navigation
- Add, move, and delete pages with simple drag-and-drop tools
- Use Main Navigation for key pages, secondary areas for less important content
- Marketing Tools and Member Sites sections handle special features
- Deleted pages can be recovered within 30 days
The Pages panel sits on the left side of your Squarespace editor and handles everything to do with your site structure. Think of it as your website's filing cabinet – this is where you add new pages, move things around, and keep everything organised.
You'll see several sections when you open the panel: Main Navigation, Not Linked, and Deleted Pages. Each one has a specific job in managing your site.
Adding and Managing Pages
Adding a new page is straightforward. Click the '+' icon at the top of any section to create a page there. You can drag pages between sections or reorder them by grabbing and moving them up or down.
When you hover over any page, you'll see a settings icon and a trash can. The settings icon opens up page-specific options like SEO settings, passwords, and URL slugs. The trash can removes the page (don't worry, it goes to Deleted Pages first).
If you've got lots of pages, use the search icon in the top-right corner to find what you need quickly. It searches both page titles and URL slugs.
Navigation Structure
Your Main Navigation should contain the pages visitors expect to find – usually things like Home, About, Services, and Contact. These appear in your site's main menu and are visible on all devices.
Secondary navigation works well for less critical pages that still need to be accessible. Footer navigation is perfect for legal pages, privacy policies, and other necessary but rarely visited content.
To create dropdown menus, drag pages underneath a main navigation item. The system automatically creates the dropdown structure for you.
Special Sections
The Pages panel includes some sections that aren't actually pages at all. Marketing Tools contains features like announcement bars, promotional pop-ups, and mobile information bars. These help with engagement but don't create traditional pages.
If you're running a membership site, the Member Sites section manages content that's only visible to logged-in members.
The Deleted Pages section at the bottom holds pages you've removed. You can restore them or permanently delete them here. Pages stay in this section for 30 days before Squarespace removes them completely.
Customising Your Navigation
The appearance of your navigation menus gets controlled through Site Styles, not the Pages panel itself. You can adjust fonts, colours, spacing, and layout there.
Most new Squarespace sites come with demo content in the Pages panel. Replace or customise these placeholder pages to match your actual content needs.
FAQs
How do I create dropdown menus?
Drag pages underneath a main navigation item in the Pages panel. Squarespace automatically creates the dropdown structure.
Can I change how my navigation looks?
Yes, but you'll need to use Site Styles rather than the Pages panel. That's where you control fonts, colours, and spacing.
What happens to deleted pages?
They move to the Deleted Pages section where you can restore them for up to 30 days. After that, they're permanently removed.
Why can't I see some pages on my live site?
Check if they're in the Not Linked section. Pages there exist but don't appear in your navigation menus.
Jargon Buster
Main Navigation – The primary menu that appears on every page of your site, usually at the top or side
Not Linked – A section for pages that exist but don't appear in your site's navigation menus
URL Slug – The part of a web address that identifies a specific page (like "about-us" in yoursite.com/about-us)
Secondary Navigation – An additional menu area, often used for less important pages
Wrap-up
The Pages panel gives you complete control over your site's structure without needing any technical knowledge. Once you understand how the different sections work together, you can create a navigation system that makes sense for your visitors and is easy for you to maintain.
Remember that good navigation is about making it easy for people to find what they're looking for. Keep your main navigation simple and logical, and use the other sections for everything else.
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